Tether, the company behind the world's largest stablecoin USDT said it has invested $100 million in Anchorage Digital, a federally regulated digital asset bank.

The investment valued the bank at $4.2 billion, Anchorage said in a press release shared with CoinDesk. The company said it will allow employees to sell equity at the same valuation through its first-ever tender offer.

Anchorage, which holds a national banking charter in the U.S., offers custody, staking, settlement and stablecoin issuance services to institutional clients.

The two companies already had a working relationship, with Anchorage serving as the banking partner behind Tether’s USAT stablecoin, designed specifically for the U.S. market to comply with local regulations.

The investment gives Tether a foothold in the fast-growing U.S. stablecoin infrastructure, which is moving towards regulated players after the GENIUS Act was written into law last year. Tether, headquartered and regulated in El Salvador, traditionally focuses on offshore users and emerging markets with its $185 billion USDT token.

"Tether exists to challenge the status quo and build global infrastructure for freedom," said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, said in a statement. "Our investment in Anchorage Digital reflects a shared belief in the importance of secure, transparent, and resilient financial systems."

UPDATE (Feb. 5, 15:05 UTC): Adds valuation and employee tender offer from Anchorage statement.